Sony Xperia Z1 Preview

The Sony Xperia Z1 is a powerful, waterproof Android smartphone with an impressive camera system. It boasts a 20.7-megapixel CMOS image sensor mated to an f/2.0 aperture and is capable of recording Full HD 1080p videos, which should look great on the phones 5.0-inch Full HD touchscreen display. Other nice camera features include burst mode, HDR (High Dynamic Range), multiple flash options, image stabilization, picture effects, touch focus, smile shutter, Super Sweet Panorama, and Time-shift Burst.

To take all these videos and high resolution still images, you're going to need all the camera's 16GB of internal storage, plus up to 64GB more on microSD cards. The Z1 also features a 2.2GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, and 4G LTE capabilities. As a Sony / Google collaboration, there a loads of Google apps and Sony provides ways to connect with their PlayStation systems and the Sony Entertainment Network.

Finally, rounding out the features, the Z1 boasts all sorts of ways to connect to the web and/or other electronic devices. Wi-Fi is a must, but this smartphone can become its own Wi-Fi Hotspot. The Z1 is also Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and DNLA certified to help it become a full fledged media streamer.

Sony Xperia Z1 Features

Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) upgradeable to 4.4.2 (KitKat)

Waterproof & Dust-resistant

5.0-inch Full HD TRILUMINOS Display

1920x1080

441 ppi

X-Reality

2.2 GHz quad-core processor

2GB RAM

16GB internal storage (plus up to 64GB external microSD storage)

4G LTE, 3G, 2G

Primary Rear Camera

20.7-megapixel

f/2.0

8x Digital Zoom

Full HD 1080p Video Recording

Autofocus

AR Effect

Background Defocus

Burst Mode

HDR for still photos and movies

Flash / Pulsed LED Flash / Photo Light

Geotagging

Info-eye App

Image Stabilizer

Object tracking

Picture Effect

Quick Launch

Red-eye Reduction

Scene Recognition

Self-time

Sent to Web

Smile Shutter

Social Live

Superior Auto Sweep Panorama

Timeshift burst

Touch Capture

Touch Focus

White Balance

2MP front facing camera with 1080p HD Video Recording

Google Apps

Chrome

Play

Search

Voice

Maps

3D Games

Wallet

PlayMemories app

PlayStation app

PlayStation Certified Radio (FM radio with RDS)

Reader Mode

SensMe Slideshow

Sony Entertainment Network TV

YouTube

3.5mm Headphone Jack

USB 2.0 & Micro USB

Wi-Fi + Wi-Fi Hotspot Technology

Bluetooth 4.0

GPS

NFC

DNLA Certified

The Sony Xperia Z1 is available -- in black, purple or white -- without a contract for $549.99.

UPDATE JAN. 2014: For an additional $50, Sony has released the Xperia Z1S. It is, in terms of performance features and hardware specifications, identical to the Z1, but adds an additional 16GB of internal storage, bringing the total internal storage to 32GB.

Visitors of Steves can visit the stores below for real-time pricing and availability. You can also find hot, soon to expire online offers on a variety of cameras and accessories at our very own Camera Deals page.